Plucky Lyon to trouble CL favourites

Huge favourites to reach the last four, Manchester City take on the surprise package of the last 16 in Lyon at Estadio Jose Alvalade. Rudi Garcia’s plucky underdogs knocked out Juventus on away goals in the last round, a 2-1 loss in Turin was enough to see them through. The game involved two very contentious penalty decisions that saw Memphis Depay and Cristiano Ronaldo convert, overall benefitting the French side who gained that crucial early away goal. An intriguing young team particularly in midfield areas who finished seventh in Ligue 1 this season will struggle, this matchup should be a bridge too far.

Background

City are unbeaten in nine Champions League outings with both teams scoring on six of those occasions. Lyon have never lost to Pep Guardiola’s men, taking four points off of them in the group stage in 2018/19. Maxwel Cornet scored three goals across those two fixtures in a 2-1 win at the Etihad and a 2-2 draw at the Groupama Stadium. The memories of these successes will spur the Kids on and with all the impetus on City to win comfortably we could see some cracks appear as they did towards the end of the Premier League season.

Ones to watch

Phil Foden was used in an interesting way in the second leg victory over Real Madrid. Initially in a false nine position with Gabriel Jesus out wide and then the opposite in the second half, it did appear to confuse the likes of Casemiro and Eder Militao and was good to see the youngster have a go at a new position. The 20-year-old has broken into the first team with more consistency in the second half of this season and what better way to top off his breakthrough than some key contributions in a deep run in the Champions League knockout stages.

Raheem Sterling got on the scoresheet once again to continue his excellent goalscoring form. It must be said that both of City’s goals came from glaring errors from Raphael Varane but you make your own luck and it was outstanding endeavour and pressing from Gabriel Jesus to force the mistakes. Sterling has found his knack for goals in recent years under Pep Guardiola, no longer do we look at a forward who struggles to finish off chances, now as one of the leaders of the attack the Englishman will be key in unlocking the Lyon defence.

Lyon will put in a spirited display showing a lot of youthful enthusiasm but ultimately City will have enough to make it into the last four.

Manchester City – Lyon Betting Tip

Manchester City to Qualify + Both Teams to Score with Betway at odds of 32/25 or 2.27.

Bet Manchester City to Qualify + Both Teams to Score on Betway